Rotary connector

Abstract

A rotary connector includes a rod-shaped rotating side electrode rotatably supported by an external shell case and a fixed side electrode supported by the external shell case. Rotating side electrode and the fixed side electrode are disposed so that one end parts of the electrodes face each other spaced apart to form a clearance therebetween, the rotary connector further has a cylindrical liquid impregnated member, disposed so as to surround the outer peripheral surface close to the one end part of the fixed side electrode, that covers the clearance formed between the fixed side electrode and the rotating side electrode from outer peripheral sides of the fixed side electrode and the rotating side electrode, and the region formed by one end part of the rotating side electrode, one end part of the fixed side electrode, and the inner peripheral surface of the liquid impregnated member is filled with liquid metal.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary connector comprising:
 a rod-shaped rotating side electrode rotatably supported by an external shell case; and 
 a fixed side electrode supported by the external shell case, 
 wherein the rotating side electrode and the fixed side electrode are disposed so that one end parts of the electrodes face each other spaced apart to form a clearance therebetween, 
 a cylindrical liquid impregnated member disposed so as to surround an outer peripheral surface close to the one end part of the fixed side electrode, the liquid impregnated member covering a clearance formed between the fixed side electrode and the rotating side electrode from outer peripheral sides of the fixed side electrode and the rotating side electrode, 
 a conductive part is provided between the one end part of the rotating side electrode and the one end part of the fixed side electrode, the conductive part making electrical connection between the rotating side electrode and the fixed side electrode, and 
 the conductive part includes liquid metal and either multivalent alcohol or high viscosity oil, 
 wherein the conductive part includes the liquid metal filling a region formed by the one end part of the rotating side electrode, the one end part of the fixed side electrode, and an inner peripheral surface of the liquid impregnated member and either the multivalent alcohol or the high viscosity oil with which the liquid impregnated member is impregnated. 
 
     
     
       2. The rotary connector according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first fluorocarbon resin ring fitted onto the outer peripheral surface close to the one end part of the fixed side electrode; and 
 a second fluorocarbon resin ring fitted onto an outer peripheral surface close to one end part of the rotating side electrode, 
 wherein one end part of the first fluorocarbon resin ring projects closer to the rotating side electrode than the one end part of the fixed side electrode, and 
 the liquid impregnated member is fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of the first fluorocarbon resin ring so as not to make contact with the rotating side electrode, the liquid impregnated member slidably making contact with one end part of the second fluorocarbon resin ring having the one end part being fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the rotating side electrode. 
 
     
     
       3. A rotary connector including a rod-shaped rotating side electrode rotatably supported by an external shell case and a fixed side electrode supported by the external shell case, the rotary connector comprising:
 a first fluorocarbon resin ring mounted to one end part of the fixed side electrode; 
 a second fluorocarbon resin ring fitted onto an outer peripheral surface close to one end part of the rotating side electrode; and 
 a cylindrical liquid impregnated member disposed between the first fluorocarbon resin ring and the second fluorocarbon resin ring so as to surround an outer peripheral surface of the first fluorocarbon resin ring and an outer peripheral surface of the second fluorocarbon resin ring, 
 wherein the rotating side electrode and the fixed side electrode are disposed so that the one end parts of the electrodes face each other spaced apart to form a clearance therebetween, 
 the first fluorocarbon resin ring surrounds the clearance formed between the one end part of the fixed side electrode and the one end part of the rotating side electrode and surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the rotating side electrode so as not to make contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating side electrode, 
 one end part of the second fluorocarbon resin ring and one end part of the first fluorocarbon resin ring face each other spaced apart to form a clearance therebetween, 
 the liquid impregnated member is impregnated with multivalent alcohol or high viscosity oil, 
 liquid metal fills a region formed by the one end part of the fixed side electrode, the one end part of the rotating side electrode, an inner peripheral surface and the one end part of the first fluorocarbon resin ring, the one end part of the second fluorocarbon resin ring, and an inner peripheral surface of the liquid impregnated member, and 
 the liquid impregnated member slidably makes contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second fluorocarbon resin ring having an inner peripheral surface fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the rotating side electrode. 
 
     
     
       4. The rotary connector according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the liquid metal is alloy of gallium, indium, and tin. 
 
     
     
       5. The rotary connector according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the liquid metal is alloy of gallium, indium, and tin.